ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Football’s equivalent to the chicken and the egg is a rookie quarterback and his offensive line.
Bo Nix is playing well as the Broncos’ rookie quarterback. Is it any coincidence Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Denver’s offensive line ranked No. 2 in the NFL behind only the blocking five high-octane Detroit lines up in front of veteran QB Jared Goff?
Nix and Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels are likely to be the top two vote getters for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Washington’s offensive line is ranked No. 5 by PFF.
Meanwhile, No. 1 overall draft pick, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, is struggling behind a bottom five offensive line. Granted, these rankings include a fair measure of subjectivity. But it’s also fair to say a rookie QB needs a quality offensive line to succeed.
“I think it certainly helps,’’ said Broncos veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey. “I think the protection and having a smart offensive line in front of you — even to help with the run game stuff — to be able to run the ball effectively will help take pressure off a young quarterback and give him time to go through his reads and do what he needs to do there.
“But I don’t know if we can take credit for how good Bo’s doing. He’s been unbelievable for us.”
Conversely, Nix has been playing with such a decisive style that he can be considered a blocker-friendly quarterback.
“It’s everybody’s job to make everybody else’s job easier,’’ McGlinchey said. “So by doing your job to a high level somebody else’s job on the field becomes a little easier. So it’s a cool thing, a team effort that requires everybody to play well and that puts a really good rookie in a really good situation.
“He’s very smart with where to go with the football and when it needs to go there. And when he doesn’t, he has a lot of athletic ability to make plays with his legs and extend the play, find places to go with the ball and buy himself some time. I think he does a great job processing and I think he does a great job transitioning when things aren’t where they’re supposed to be.”
Allen questionable
Zach Allen, a rare defensive lineman who plays nearly every snap, raised no eyebrows Wednesday when he was given some practice reps off to rest his body. He was a full participant in practice Thursday, so no issue there.
And then Friday, for the final injury report prior to the Broncos game Sunday at Las Vegas, Allen was listed as questionable to play because of a heel injury.
It follows something happened to his heel during practice Friday. Allen and cornerback Pat Surtain II have been the Broncos’ most impactful defensive players this season, so the Broncos figure to do all they can to have their 3-4 defensive end playing against the Raiders.
Number reverse equals 2 best Raiders
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said it’s difficult to tell how much impact longtime offensive coordinator and head coach Norv Turner has had on the Raiders’ offense since he was hired 17 days ago as a senior advisor to help out his son Scott Turner, who became the team’s interim offensive coordinator in place of the fired Luke Getsy.
“I think it’s an offense that’s obviously in flux with the change, and we have to defend it,’’ Payton said. “I know there are two important numbers: 98 and 89.”
Maxx Crosby, who has at least one sack each game, and 14.5 total, in his previous 10 games against the Broncos, wears No. 98. Brock Bowers, a first-round rookie tight end who is second in the NFL with 70 catches, is No. 89.
Workouts
The Broncos worked out three special team players Friday: Long snapper Peter Bowden and punters Jake Julien and Ty Zentner.
Bowden is a rookie from Wisconsin. Julien has spent time with New England, the Jets and the Canadian Football League but has yet to kick in an NFL game. Zentner punted in nine games last year for Houston and Tennessee and for the Raiders in a game earlier this month.
